“I believe that horses bring out the best in us. They judge us not by how we look, what we're wearing or how powerful or rich we are, they judge us in terms of sensitivity, consistency, and patience. They demand standards of behavior and levels of kindness that we, as humans, then strive to maintain.”
― Clare Balding
Being a city girl all my life, I never pictured that I would have a daughter who would at a very young age, have an interest in horses. It started at the age of two when we visited a very dear friend of mine, Michelle on Long Island. Her family owned horses and she was given a pony ride. Never in my wildest dreams did I sense that at that very moment, my quiet spirited little girl would feel a connection to one of God's most beautiful creatures.
She came home saying that one day she would own a horse. We passed it off year after year, thinking that it was just a childhood dream that would one day fade away. We kept her at bay by telling her she would have to complete three years of summer camp before dedicating to lessons. That was not going to stop her. She fulfilled each one of our obstacles one by one. Her dad even told her that she would have to "buy" half of her own first horse. She didn't take presents for years for her birthday and other events to save.
Over the years, her four legged friends have stretched her, sustained her, challenged her. Each of her hairy friends have wiped her tears, been faithful when friends and family disappointed and betrayed her, stood by her side when she has fallen and nuzzled her when they sensed that she was down or sickly. They have given her a safe haven to be herself, loved and accepted without condition.
When I look back over the past 9 years of her life, being in the equestrian world, I feel blessed beyond belief that it was on the back of a horse, that one of my most precious gifts has found peace, freedom and confidence. In a world of peers where she has never felt totally embraced or understood, at the barn she can be who God created her to be. As she grows older, I see that she is walking the journey with many other girls and women who have similar personalities.
Horses teach you so many life skills. It is not in the mistakes or falling that matters, but how you learn and move forward. You have to learn to observe and listen to the personalities around you or you might get kicked when you aren't looking. If you are wishy washy in making decisions, a horse will rule you and you might find yourself in a precarious position, sometimes you just have to take charge. You have to take care of what God has entrusted to you or you may lose the one you love. Life is a journey. There is no instantaneous results in riding, it is just the dedication of working one day at a time, one course at a time, one year at a time. Trust cannot be bought, it is earned. A horse and a rider are either working together, or against one another, each has their own thoughts and their own bad day, you just hope that you sync together well once in awhile because it is not every time. When life goes bad, you pray and trust God more to get you through the falls, the injuries, the sicknesses. There is not one thing that we can control. God is sovereign for all and promises to walk with us through the good and the bad times.
How blessed we are to have Max as Abby's best friend. He has taught our girl so much!
